Images

renatagrieco:

October 17, 2016 – White-throated Magpie-Jay (Calocitta formosa)

Requested by: @phalacrocoracidae

These jays are found from southwestern Mexico through much of western Central America to Costa Rica. Feeding mostly on fruits during the dry season, along with caterpillars and other insects during the wet season, they also eat small vertebrates, eggs, and nectar. Highly social birds, they breed cooperatively, but unlike in most cooperatively breeding bird species the helpers are female. Young males disperse to other areas, often visiting multiple social groups in a day. Dominant females are mostly faithful to their mates, but sometimes breed with these unattached males. The helper females occasionally also nest on their own, with other group members helping them only if the main female’s nest is unsuccessful. When they find a low-threat predator, both males and females fly toward it, calling. Males show off their complex vocal ability during these alarm calls.

renatagrieco:

January 1, 2017 – Lady Ross’s Turaco or Ross’s Turaco (Musophaga rossae)

Requested by: @hearthawk

Found in central and southern Africa, excluding the extreme southern and eastern part of the continent, these turacos mostly get around by running and hopping between branches rather than flying. Important seed dispersers, they eat fruits, berries, flowers, and foliage, along with some invertebrates, such as caterpillars, moths, beetles, snails, and termites. They are social birds, forming flocks of up to 30 individuals. Pairs build nests, incubate the eggs, and feed the chicks regurgitated fruit together, often assisted by other flock members.

renatagrieco:

March 11, 2017 – Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)

Requested by: @gepwin

Found in tropical oceans around the world, these boobies nest on cliffs of rocky islands or on flat coral atolls. They eat squid and fish, particularly flying fish and anchovies, often fishing in areas where their smaller prey is driven to the surface by large predators and around fishing boats. Sometimes diving at prey from as high as 50 feet (15 meters), they also pluck food from the water’s surface, or steal from other seabirds. They nest on the ground in colonies, building mounds of branches, bones, grass, trash, and other materials. Pairs often remain together for multiple years and frequently reuse their nest sites. Both parents incubate, using the webbing of their large feet to warm the eggs. Reaching breeding age at around four or five, they can live for over 25 years.

renatagrieco:

November 17, 2014 – Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis)

300th Bird

These extremely rare parrots have a small and fragmented range in northern Bolivia. Palm fruits, as well as various nuts and seeds make up most of their diets. They nest in tree cavities, particularly within palms. Critically Endangered, their wild population was estimated at somewhere around 300 birds in 2007, but may have dropped significantly since then. The prime threats they face are collection for the pet trade, a now illegal practice which likely continues, and habitat loss.

I knew I had to draw these beautiful parrots when I first saw people talking about the “Go Blue” campaign for them a few months ago. I wanted to not just donate, but also give them a special place on Bird Studies as my 300th bird. I know a lot of people have already contributed, but here’s the link for anyone considering it: http://www.birdendowment.org/inBolivia/nidoAdoptivo.shtml